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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Full Text of Indian Foreign
Minister Sushma Swaraj's Speech at UN General Assembly 71st session
on September 26, 2016

Hon'ble President,

1. On behalf of India and on
my own behalf, I congratulate you on your election as President of the 71st
United Nations General Assembly. Let me also take this opportunity to thank
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon for his services to the United Nations, history's
largest peace movement.

Mr. President,

2. A year has passed since I stood here at this hallowed podium to
address the members of the international community. Since then, much has
changed in the world around us - some for the better, some for the worse and
much which has been cause of great concern. There can be no better platform to
ponder our actions and our achievements over the last year.We must remember that we will be defined not
just by our actions, but equally, by our inaction.

Mr. President,

3. A number of issues have been debated in this augustAssembly - from the necessity of global
partnerships in sharing new vaccines and promoting access to affordable drugs
to counter anti-microbial resistance, to the need for faster implementation of
the Sendai Framework to mitigate the risk of natural disasters.From the challenge of ensuring well-ordered
mobility of productive human resources, to the necessity of adequate
consultations with Troop Contributing Countries before framing mandates for UN
Peacekeeping Operations. But my time is limited. I would therefore, focus only
on some of the most pressing issues facing the international community.

Mr. President,

4. The true challenge of our time is to end the curse of harsh
poverty that still lurks in so many corners of our world; to ensure that the
fruits of growing prosperity reach those who need it most; to take forward the
mission of gender equality and protect women where there is gender regression;
and to ensure peace across boundaries, not least because there can be no
prosperity without peace.

5. I congratulate you for the priority you have given to the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by making them the theme for the 71st
UNGA. I am happy that the 17 goals adopted by this Assembly are matched by the
development vision of my Government, which is geared towards the achievement of
these same objectives. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Campaign),
more than 400,000 toilets have been constructed in schools. The Beti Bachao
Beti Padhao (Educate the Girl Child, Save the Girl Child) programme has become
a nation-wide mission. The Make in India brand is receiving international
acclaim.Almost 250 million bank
accounts have been opened for the poor under the Jan Dhan Yojana, the largest
financial inclusion programme the world has ever seen.Digital India is transforming the country.
Under the Skill India initiative, a number of programmes are underway to enable
youth to reap the demographic dividend. These initiatives have added a new
dimension to India's growth story, making it the fastest growing major economy
in the world at a time of slow global growth.

Mr. President,

6. We are all aware that 1/6th of humanity lives in India.Therefore global success in realizing SDGs
depends on the success achieved in India.We are committed to the wholehearted implementation of the Agenda 2030
as a national effort.

We have decided to dedicate
one day in each session of our Parliament for discussions only on SDGs. This
will enable us to constantly monitor their progress and this will give us good
results.

7. However, in a globalised world, national effort needs to be
supplemented by international cooperation for the successful implementation of
Agenda 2030.

Mr. President,

8. Climate change is yet another serious challenge confronting us.
There are enough resources on this planet to fulfil everyone's needs, but not
enough to fulfil anyone's greed, for greed is limitless. In this context PM
Modi has championed a new concept - Climate Justice.If we respect nature,
nature will respect and nurture us and future generations. But, if we exploit
nature mindlessly, then we must be mindful that nature will unleash its fury
upon us. In different parts of the world, we have already seen nature drift
towards the unnatural - from torrential rain to excessive heat, from tsunamis
to storms and cloudbursts.

9. We must curb reckless consumption, and adopt lifestyles in
harmony with nature. Yoga, the storehouse of India's ancient wisdom, epitomises
a sustainable lifestyle. Let me record our gratitude for the unprecedented
global response to the International Day of Yoga.

10. In the Paris Agreement, the principle of 'Common but
Differentiated Responsibilities' and 'Respective Capabilities' has been
acknowledged and accepted. This makes clear that while our responsibility is
common, obligations are different. Developed nations must discharge their
responsibility in the search for the common good, with finance and technology
transfer.

11. India has launched an ambitious domestic effort to transform
our energy mix to achieve 40% energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. The
massive investments required entail a predictable and stable environment
towards which we are working actively. Apart from this, our path-breaking
initiative for an International Solar Alliance is intended to make efficient
solar technology available for all.

12. I assure this Assembly that India will continue to play a
leading role in combating climate change. We have decided to submit our
Instrument of Ratification of the Paris Agreement on October 2, the birth
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi who epitomised a lifestyle with the smallest
carbon footprint.

Mr. President,

13. Let me now turn to a subject of the most critical importance,
one which deeply concerns every member of this Assembly. This month we marked
the 15th Anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on this city. Tragically, less
than 15 days ago, another attempt at killing innocents was made through an act
of terror in this same city.We,who
have suffered in Uri recently, understand the pain inflicted by the same
forces.The world has been battling this
scourge for long.However, despite the
blood and tears of innocent victims, attacks this year alone in Kabul and
Dhaka, Istanbul and Mogadishu, Brussels and Bangkok, Paris, Pathankot and Uri
as well as daily barbaric tragedies in Syria and Iraq, remind us that these
malevolent forces are yet to be defeated.

14. We must acknowledge that terrorism is undoubtedly the biggest
violation of human rights.It targets
the innocent and kills indiscriminately. Terrorism has gone way beyond
affecting individuals or nations - it is a crime against humanity itself. But
it is important to ask - who is behind this and who benefits from it?Terrorists
do not own banks or weapons factories, so let us ask the real question: who
finances these terrorists, who arms them and provides sanctuaries? We heard
similar questions being asked by Afghanistan from this podium.

Mr. President,

15. History proves that those who seed extremist ideologies, reap a
bitter harvest.The germ of evil has
grown into a hydra-headed monster, backed by technological sophistication that
threatens the peace and harmony of our world. We will not be able to win
against terrorism by making specious distinctions between your problems and
mine, between terrorists who attack you and those who attack me. For we do not
know who this Frankenstein's monster will devour next.

16. Therefore if we want to defeat terrorism, there is only one way
- that we unite across our differences, add steel to our resolve and inject
urgency in our response.We need to
forget our prejudices and join hands together to script an effective strategy
against terror. This is not an impossible task provided we have the will. We
can do it, we must do it. Otherwise our future generations will forever hold us
to account. And if any nation refuses to join this global strategy, then we
must isolate it.

17. In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language
of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it. To shelter terrorists
has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to
account. These nations, in which UN declared terrorists roam freely, lead
processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as
culpable as the very terrorists they harbour. Such countries should have no
place in the comity of nations.

Mr. President,

18. On 21st September, the Prime Minister of Pakistan used this
podium to make baseless allegations about human rights violations in my
country. I can only say that those accusing others of human rights violations
would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating
in their own country, including in Balochistan. The brutality against the
Baloch people represents the worst form of State oppression.

Mr. President,

19. The Prime Minister of Pakistan also said that India has placed
pre-conditions for talks which are not acceptable to him.What pre-conditions? Did we impose any
pre-condition before extending an invitation for the oath-taking ceremony of
our Government? Did we impose any pre-condition when I went to Islamabad for
the Heart of Asia conference and agreed to begin the Comprehensive Bilateral
Dialogue? Did we impose any pre-condition when Prime Minister Modi travelled
from Kabul to Lahore? What pre-conditions? We took the initiative to resolve
issues not on the basis of conditions, but on the basis of friendship!We have in fact attempted a paradigm of
friendship in the last two years which is without precedent.We conveyed Eid greetings to the Prime
Minister of Pakistan, wished success to his cricket team, extended good wishes
for his health and well being.Did all
this come with pre-conditions attached?

20. And what did we get in return? Pathankot, Bahadur Ali, and Uri.
Bahadur Ali is a terrorist in our custody, whose confession is a living proof
of Pakistan's complicity in cross-border terror. But when confronted with such
evidence, Pakistan remains in denial. It persists in the belief that such
attacks will enable it to obtain the territory it covets.My firm advice to Pakistan is: abandon this
dream. Let me state unequivocally that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of
India and will always remain so.

Mr. President,

21. As I said at the very beginning, we will be judged by our
action and equally by our inaction. What goals have we achieved and what
objectives remain unfulfilled? I would like to highlight two such pending tasks
of this Assembly.

22. The CCIT was proposed by India in 1996. In 2016, despite the
passage of two decades, we are yet to come to a conclusion.As a result, we are unable to develop a norm
under which terrorists shallbe prosecuted or extradited. Therefore it is my
appeal that this General Assembly acts with fresh resolve and urgency to adopt
this critical Convention.

23. Just as we need a more contemporary approach to combating
terrorism, we also need a less outdated Security Council that continues to
reflect the world order of an earlier era.The vast majority of nations share the belief that the UN should not
remain frozen in 1945, just to serve the interests of a few.Whether it is institutions or issues, we must
come to terms with present day realities and the challenges that confront us.
An expansion in the Permanent and non-Permanent membership of the Council to
reflect contemporary realities is therefore, an urgent necessity.We must move forward substantively towards
text-based negotiations.

Mr. President,

24. If both these long pending issues are addressed during your
Presidency, the success of this Session will be ensured.

25. The 21st century has begun in the shadow of turmoil, but we can
turn this into a golden age in the history of civilization through united and
concerted efforts.But what happens
tomorrow will depend on what we do today.